How to transfer contacts from Xiaomi to Redmi Note: all ways 2026

The switch to a new Redmi Note smartphone is always an exciting moment, especially when it comes to saving important data. Contacts accumulated over the years using the old Xiaomi can be in danger of losing if you do not approach the transfer process responsibly. By 2026, users have at least 5 reliable ways to migrate contacts between devices based on the Internet. MIUI — from classical export through SIM-Map before synchronization via Google cloud services and Mi Account.

The main problem faced by owners is the fragmentation of data: some contacts can be stored in the memory of the phone, some in the Google account, and some only on the phone. SIM-In addition, the new Redmi Note models 13/12/11 Often comes with an updated version. MIUI 14/15, where sync settings may be different from the usual circuits, in this article we will discuss each transfer method taking into account the nuances of the latest firmware, and also give recommendations for backup in case of failures.

Preparation for transfer: verification of contact sources

Before you start migrating, you need to determine where your contacts are stored on the old Xiaomi, which determines the method of transfer. Open the Contacts app and go to Settings → Contact Management. Here you will see a list of sources:

• 📱 Device – contacts are stored only in the phone’s memory (the riskiest option).
• ☁️ Google – synced with Gmail account.
• 🔗 Mi Accounts – linked to Xiaomi profile.
• 📇 SIM-Card – stored on a physical chip (limitation) ~250 contacts).

If the contacts are spread across multiple sources, they will have to be combined before transferring. SIM-cards can be imported into the phone memory or Google account through the Import / Export menu in the contact settings. SIM Profile photos and additional fields (e.g., dates of birth) are often lost).

⚠️ Note: If the old Xiaomi enabled the function Duplicate contacts (located in Settings) → System system → Additionally, it must be disabled before transferring, otherwise, the new Redmi Note may have repetitive recordings.

Method 2: Synchronize with Mi Account (the fastest method)

If both devices are MIUI-powered and you have a Xiaomi account, this will take no more than 5 minutes, the main condition is a stable Internet (Wi-Fi or mobile network) on both smartphones.

1. On the old Xiaomi, go to Settings → Accounts → Mi Account and make sure that the contacts sync is enabled (Contacts → On).
2. Wait for the synchronization to be completed (a notification will appear in the top panel).
3. On the new Redmi Note, log in to the same Mi Account via Settings → Accounts.
4. Turn on contact synchronization and wait for data to load.

Advantages of the method:

• 🔄 Automatically update contacts when added/deleted on any device.
• 📸 Profile photos and additional fields are saved.
• 🔒 Data is encrypted during transmission.

⚠️ Note: If the new Redmi Note already has contacts, they may be duplicated when synchronized through Mi Account for the first time. To avoid this, export existing contacts to the.vcf file before synchronization (menu Export in contact settings) and delete them, and after transfer import back.

Method 2: Transfer through a Google account (universal version)

This method is suitable if you are using Google services or are planning to switch from Xiaomi to a device of another brand (such as Samsung or Pixel).

Add a Google account to an old Xiaomi|Turn on contact synchronization|Check the internet connection|Make sure that the new Redmi Note has the same account.-->

On the old device:

1. Open Settings → Accounts → Google.
2. Select your account and turn on the Contacts switch.
3. Click Sync Now (can take up to 10 minutes depending on the number of contacts).

On the new Redmi Note:

1. Add the same Google account through Settings → Accounts.
2. Turn on contact sync.
3. Open the Contacts app and update the list (pull down).

Important: If the old Xiaomi contacts were stored only in the device memory, you need to transfer them to Google before syncing. To do this, export them to the.vcf file (Export menu in the contact settings), and then import them through Google Contacts on the web version (contacts.google.com).

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If after synchronization, some contacts did not appear, check the “Other contacts” folder in Google Contacts – sometimes there are records with non-standard fields (for example, several phone numbers).

4. Method 3: Export/import via.vcf file

It is a manual method that does not require internet and is suitable for transferring contacts between any device, including iPhone or feature-phones.

On the old Xiaomi:

1. Open Contacts → Settings → Export / Import → Export to the vault.
2. Select the source (e.g., the device or SIM-map).
3. Specify the folder to save (it is better to choose Downloads or root directory).
4. The file will be saved as contacts.vcf.

Transfer the file to the new Redmi Note:

• 📁 Bluetooth: Send a file from one device to another.
• 🔌 Through USB-cable: connect your old smartphone to your PC, copy the file, then transfer to a new one.
• ☁️ Through the Cloud: Download.vcf to Google Drive or Mi Cloud, then download to your new phone.

Import on the new device:

1. Open Contacts → Settings → Export / Import → Import from storage.
2. Select the contacts.vcf file.
3. Specify an account to import (e.g., Device or Google).

⚠️ Note: When importing a large.vcf file (more than 500 contacts) MIUI In this case, break the file into parts using the service. VCF Splitter or import through Google Contacts on PC.

5. Method 4: Transfer through SIM-map (for older models)

This method is relevant for devices without Internet access or when switching from very old Xiaomi models (e.g. Redmi 3S or Mi 4).

• 🚫 Only the main fields are supported: name and phone number (without email, addresses, photos).
• 📏 Limit: ~250 contacts per person SIM-map.
• ⏳ Speed: ~1 contact per second.

Step-by-step:

1. On the old Xiaomi, open your contacts. → Settings → Exports/imports → Exports to SIM-map.
2. Choose your contacts for export (you can note everything).
3. Wait until the end (notification will appear on the screen).
4. Move it. SIM-map to the new Redmi Note.
5. On the new device, go to Contacts → Settings → Exports/imports → Import with SIM-map.

Method 5: Transmission over Bluetooth (without the Internet)

If you do not have access to Wi-Fi or mobile network, SIM-This is slower than the others, but it is reliable for a small number of contacts (up to 500).

Instructions:

1. On both devices, enable Bluetooth via the notification panel or Settings → Connections → Bluetooth.
2. Make devices visible to everyone (Visibility or Device Search).
3. On the old Xiaomi, open Contacts, select the entries you want (or tap Allow).
4. Click Share → Bluetooth and select the new Redmi Note from the list.
5. Confirm the file acceptance on the new device.

Limitations of the method:

• ⏱️ Time of transmission: ~10 contacts per minute.
• 📵 Failures are possible with a large amount of data (the solution is to divide into batches by batch) 50-100 contact).
• 🔄 Profile photos are not supported.

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Bluetooth is suitable for emergency transfer of a small number of contacts, but is not recommended for full migration due to low speed and the risk of data loss.

7. Solving problems in the transfer of contacts

Even when following instructions, users often encounter common errors, and consider the most common and ways to fix them:

If photos of contacts are missing after the transfer, try the following:

1. Make sure that the new device has enabled the display of the photo in the settings Contacts → Settings → Display.
2. Check if the media files are synced in Google Contacts (on the web version).
3. If you have stored your photos locally, transfer your Pictures/Contacts folder from your old phone to your new phone.

8. Additional advice and recommendations

To avoid future data loss, follow these rules:

• 🔄 Set up automatic sync of contacts with Google or Mi Account (once a week).
• 📥 Backups: Once a month export contacts to a.vcf file and save it to the cloud (Google Drive, Mi Cloud).
• 📇 Cleaning takes: Use apps like Contacts Optimizer to remove duplicate records.
• 🔒 Security: Do not keep your contacts only on SIM-The map is easy to lose or damage.

For users of the Redmi Note 13 Pro+ and other flagship models of 2026, MIUI Clone (built into Settings → Additional → Data Cloning) is available, which allows you to transfer not only contacts, but also messages, photos, application settings over Wi-Fi Direct without an Internet connection. However, to work, both devices must work on MIUI 14/15.

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If you change your smartphone frequently, consider using cross-platform services like Sync.me or Truecaller to back up your contacts, which automatically save your history of changes and allow you to recover data even when you reset your phone.

FAQ: Frequent questions about contact transfer